In between things get hot and Rukiya Anpo.
Garcia and Anpo will face off in an exhibition showdown at RIZIN's Decade event on December 30, and the first press conference for the event took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday. And while Garcia press conferences often have the potential to get wild, it was Anpo who brought an aggressive energy to the proceedings.
After initial statements to open the press conference, Anpo took the podium with a prepared speech, which the Japanese kickboxer delivered to Garcia before breaking it down and hurling it at the former WBC interim lightweight champion.
“We all know Ryan Garcia’s struggles,” Anpo said. “Lack of weight, alcohol, … lack of professionalism, no sportsmanship, no respect. Yet he dares to call himself “king.” On the day of the fight I show him the true code of Bushido. We fight for honor and legacy. I bring the true Japanese samurai spirit and show it exactly where it belongs.
“F*ck you! Fuck you!”
Anpo's aggression seemed to surprise Garcia, who admitted he didn't take the event too seriously.
“It wakes me up,” Garcia said. “I just imagined it like this: It's going to be a small exhibition, I'm going to enjoy the ride, enjoy the celebrations in Japan, it's New Year, but now it's kind of waking up the dragon. It makes me a little excited to make this guy cheer. I want to blow your mind now. Beforehand I thought it would be a relaxed family event. It’s not that anymore.”
Garcia and Anpo continued to exchange words throughout the press conference, with both men threatening each other, before the first encounter. And considering the press officer's tenor up to that point, it's no surprise that things got a little heated during the faceoff as Garcia pretended to hit Anpo and Anpo responded with a jab of his own.
The 26-year-old Garcia, a former interim WBC lightweight champion, is now one of the most popular boxers in the sport but has had as many problems outside the ring as successes of late. Most recently, he won a majority decision victory Back in April, this was later changed to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for Ostarine. Garcia is for failure.
The 29-year-old Anpo is a former K-1 champion who most recently put in an impressive performance in a three-round boxing match against Manny Pacquiao in July.
You can check out the tense look above.
